Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-25
A GARD.
Delegate Chew Gives His Reasons Why the
APPROXIMATION Bill Did Not Pass.

Delegate Chew Gives His Reasons Why the
Appropriation Bill Did Not Pass.
Editor Of Spirit Of JeferSoH:-l find a dis
position upon the part of some newspapers
and followers of Mr.. Camden to attribute
the failure to pass the appropriation bills
and the expenses Of an extra session to the
action of those members of the Legislature
who opposed the election of Mr.. Camden.
To remove any Misrepresentation about this
and to fix up the responsibility where 1t
Justly belongs, | will give a statement OF
the facts as they cam under my Observa-
ton, and as | gather them from the Jour
nails of the Senate for the oath and 18th Of
February. The Legislative Appropriation
Bill passed the House and was
reported 10 the Senate about
the 18th of February. As far as |
can ascertain no attempt was ever made TO
pass it. The General Appropriation Bill
was transmitted from the House to the
Senate on the morning Of the 9th OF Feb
ruary. 1t is the custom to suspend the
rules and take up the Appropriation bills
out of their order and consider them TO the
exclusion of any other business. This was
done in the House aud without opposition.
II was the duty of McCreery, the Chair
man OF the Senate Committee on Finance,
to press the consideration OF these bills,
vet upon the examination of the Journal
find but one motion made by him, and
that at 3 o'clock on the morning OF the
2Gth, a few moments before final adjourn
ment.
On the evening of the oath Flournoy
moved to take mp the General Appropria-
ton bill, but his motion WAS defeated.
On the 18th after the dissolution of the
Joint Assembly, on motion OF Sweeny the
bill was taken up, and until the hour OF
adjournment its consideration was firmly
pressed by FlOurnOy. SOmmeryille, Ok
lev and Others OF the Camden leaders
voted steadily against the consideration OF
the bill. 1t is plain there was ample time
10 pass these bills. The failure to pass
them could not he anticipated when a vote
was taken in the House at eight o'clock
ON "A resolution to extend the session. IT
is apparent that the purpose OF Sommer-
willie and his followers was to force an eN-
tension, as after ~ObstTucting the passage OF
the appropriation bills a resolution To eN-
tend the session WAS offered in the Senate
late in the night, but was defeated. Had
McCreery and SOmmerville been rs active
and diligent as FlOurnOy aud Price to Sc
cure the passage of these bills there would
have been no need of an extra session.
The expense ofan extra session over the
mount that would have been incurred by
an extension of the last session has been
exaggerated to this eXtent-that in both
the per diem of members and pay of OIL
GERS would be the anne The additional
expense will be about : $500 for the mile
age of members. To avoid this expense
Flournoy, myself and Others urged the
Governor to call the Legislature together
on the Goth for the purpose OF passing the
appropriation bills. This he concluded
not to do, giving as his reason that there
was business OF great importance TO the
people of the State that could he attended
to in an extra session, and that its cost
could he much more than saved by legis-
latiug to reduce the criminal charges
which have reached the enormous sum OF
one hundred thousand dollars.
The above | believe to be n fair state
ment, and will be sustained by an exam
nation of the Journal of the Senate.
X. 7. CHEW.